Means for preventing the formation of scum or skin on the top of milk or other liquids



Feb. 12, 1935. B RAMSDEN 1,990,918

MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION OF SCUM OR SKIN ON THE TOP OF MILK OR OTHER LIQUIDS Filed July 1, 1932 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 12, 19 35 TED FATENT Y OF I 1,990,918" MEANS eoariteyemme. THE FORMATION F scum on SKIN; ON mirror on OTHER LIQUIDS 0F MILK BenjaminRamsden, Shalford; England Application; July, 1, 1932, Serial No; 620,554 In Great Britain August.12, 1931 4 01mm. (Cl. 65 -31) This invention relates to means for preventing the formation or presence: of :scumorskin on the top of milk or otherliquid in vessels, after boiling or strong heating, and more. particularly to other, containers from which the; milk can be served after boiling or, heating;

It has been ascertained that the presence; of afloat onthesurface of. milk in a; container, fittingwithin thecontainer sufiiciently closely to. exclude practically a-ll theair; willprevent the formation of a skin orscum on themilk; after,

boiling; or heating. Sucha skin or scum, whichcommonly forms when milk is brought up to the boilin the ordinary Way, with access of air to length, when used in a vessel with, parallel. sides, such as an ordinary jug, William whenthe jug,

;9. ed fo p ur n un e sit'is' made substantially;smallerv than the ,inside-diameter-ofthe jug, in which caseaconsiderable' portion: of the surface of. the vmill: would be uncovered; destroy-egtheeffectiveness of thedevice;

pv fpp e hes d fi l ies by'. p oviding a floatv which has no straight vertical edges, oriangedge so slight in.its vertical.dimension as to overcome the; danger, of jamming. This: may be accome Dlished by, providing rounded edges, .or; a thinrim or edge portion at or about the-liquid level, so that the float; can float freely onthe surface; ofatheor other liqu d at any-angleqwhilst covering substantially the whole surfacaand the.

milkorrother liquid can be poured out. withithe float, still in'position.

Thedevice may be of lenticular, or planoecone vex. or concave-convex or other desired .shape 1 in cross section, or itmay be, for example; of biscuit shape with a. rounded, peripheral edge: Various shapes may; be-used, so long as "the fioatrfits within the container with" a'diametenor other lateral dimension slightlysmaller than that of the rinteriorof the vessel'with which-.it is: to-loev used, so thatthe' whole surface areaof -the-1iquidinthevessel will be substantially covered; while giving the float perfect freedom to; follow,

- anyalteration'of' level foftth'e liquid. I find that with the slight necessary clearance between the edge of the float and the interior of the vessel the air is excluded practically completely from the surface of the liquid, when the latter, such as milk, is heated sufliciently, say, to about 180 fully appear hereafter,

because bubbles from, the, hot or boiling,

liquid. form a gaseous seal betweenztheedgesi of the float. and the wall ofv the container. With.

this construction not only can the liquid be poured.

from, the vesselwithout interference from the float,,but also, if desired, a person may, drink direct from thevessel Without being unduly; ing convenienced by the presence of the float. .I. likewise note that with the described construction. the float will not float out of the container when theuliquid is poured, but will either maintain itsv position upon the surface within the vessel or will engage at opposite points ofthe container,

- about which it will tend to pivot.

An object of my-inventionisthe provision of invention comprising improved float devices zand also, the combination of such devices with vessels of, a character adapted to coact therewith. Other objects comprise the provision ofvariousimproved details of construction, all as will more In order ;that' the invention may be more; fully understood,-attention is hereby directedtotheaccompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and illustrating, by way of examplepcerr tain embodiments'of, the invention. In'the drawll'lgi Figure} isa side elevationlpartlllbrokenaway"- and shown insection, of one constructionof float device and aij ug for use therewith,

F ure 2 s a-perspe t ve view illustratingthe position of the float shownin Figure 1 whenthe iueist lt d or p r Figure 3 is; a View, partly ingelevation and. partly in section of another constructionofffioat; in the form of a ball and ajugfor use therewith.

Fi u 11 3. a ew, pa ydn l vation and part: 1yv insection of yet another construction of floa andjilg therefor;

Figure is; a cross-section. of a modified. construction of-float; and

improved devices ofthe, character indicated,.the-

Fi u e 6 is an elevation ofxyet another modified construction.

Referring to FigureQ 1, the em a. is of lenticu lar shape in-cro ss-section, and is made;0fporce.-'

lain-earthenware, metal or'other appropriate material and is; suitably hollow, as shown. The deterial being used which will float on the, liquids Inany case, it: is advantageous to provide, the,

float, with a, smooth surface for, 'facilitatingythe Vice may be solid, however, in the-case. of ama-r cleaning, thereof; and one whichjis. substantially:

nornporous, and impervious to the, milki or: other liquid. Thefvessel, b comprises-a body part: hi having parallel sidesgasspoutc and arhandl'ed;

The jug may be cylindrical. orsef;circularycrossew section as shown to permit vertical movement of the float a thereinor it may be elliptical in cross-section or of other suitable cross-section,

' a may be provided with a knob or handle as shown substantially cover the surface of the liquid conficient to bring the float into operation, sayinto' the float being in all cases of similar shape in plan. The jug may also be provided with markings to indicate the contentsby the liquid level or levels. The float a,- of circular shape in plan, is of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the vessel b. The float isthus capable of floating in the vessel anidexcludes airfrom practically entire surface-area'of theliquidin the vessel. As shown, the float a, of lenticular shape in cross-section, is composed of -two similar portions connected at their flat edges. forming rims to provide a more or less thin peripheral edge e which is adapted to coincide with 'or float just above the level of the liquid. 'It will be'seen that the float offers no obstruction to pouring (as exemplified in Figure?) and does not jam inthe vessel. When the .jug is inclined for pouring the float will not pass away with the milk but makes contact at two opposite points of the jug almost as soon as pouring commences,

resuming its original position when the jug is returned to an upright position. 7 There is, therefore, no necessity to remove the float from the jug when pouring. The float also serves as e. cover to prevent flies or foreign matter coming into contact with the milk. If desired, the float at a in Figure 6. 1

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the float a is spherical and may be of such a diameter as to nearly make contact with the inside of the jug. In any case it has such a specific gravity as causes it to float with its largest horizontal peripheryimmediately above the level of the liquid. If desired and asshown this float is smaller and provided with a rim or rims like that marked e in Figures 1 and 2 and weighted so that therim is immediately above the liquid level.

The jug b shown is as described with reference to Figures land 2. V As shown in Figure 4, the float a is of planoconvex shape in cross-section, the upper convex I 1 vessel may be tilted for pouring while said floatsurface being formed with a knob a handle or the like, so that the device may be easily handled.

Thefloatmay be made of anysuitablernaterial, such as earthenware and is preferably hollow,

butit may be made solid if 'the'material has-such aspeciflc gravity as will allow it to float in the where it is intended that the liquid shall remain in the jug till cool and where the quantity of the liquid poured into it in the -flrst instance is suf-' the dotted position at a. In this position the float excludes air from practically the entire surface-area of the liquid in the jug and prevents the'formation of skin there but, obviously, this would not occur if the float were resting on the ledge 19 and the liquid level were below it.

Obviously, any of the floats described and shown may be used with any jug, beaker or other vessel having parallel sides and of a shape conforming to the shape'of the float.

According to'the modified construction shown in-Figure 5, the float a is of biscuit-shape in cross-section having substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and a rounded edge a. The float maybe provided with an aperture h thus allowing the insertion of a stirring device for agitating or mixing some liquids, such as cocoa or chocolate. The aperture may be disposed eccentrical- 1y if the float be provided with a knob as in Figure 4 so as to enable it to assume its proper.

horizontal position when floating and may be of double truncated conical section with the waist or constricted part at liquid level. Or the knob may be hollow forming an extension above the aperture which may then be central. 7

-As shown in Figure 6, the float is in the'form of a pan a with a flat peripheral rim or edge e and a knob or handle a which, if hollow; must 7 be hermetically sealed all round where it is joined to the float so asto prevent the entry of liquid which, if it gained access to the interior would become sour or decomposed V a 'I claim: 1. A' serving pitcher for preventing the formation of scum on the surface of liquid contained therein, comprising a body portion having parallel walls and a float adapted to rest upon and ginal edges adjacent said walls whereby the body portion 'ofsaid vessel may be tilted for pouring" while'said' float remains in a freefloating ho'ri-' zontal position on the surface of said liquid.

2. Aserving pitcher for preventing the formation of scum on the surface of a liquid therein,

1 comprising a cylindricalbody portion having normally vertically disposedwalls, a circular float of slightly less diameter than the internal diameterof said body portion adapted to rest upon and substantially cover the surface of the liquid therein, said float having narrow tapering marginal edges whereby the body portion of saidremains in horizontal 'free floating position. 7

3. Aserving pitcher forpreventingthe formation'of scum 'on the surface of liquid contained therein, comprising a body portion having normally vertically disposed walls and a uniform I horizontal free floatingposition-when said vessel is'tilted for pouring i r inal edges whereby said float will remain in I V 4. A serving pitcher for preventing the formai tion of. scum on the surface-of liquid contained therein, comprising a cylindrical bo'dy'portion having normally'vertically disposed walls, an inwardly extending ledge at the base of said walls,

afloat of slightly less diameter'than said body portion'adaptedto rest uponthe surface of said liquid when the level thereofis above said ledge and to rest on said ledge when said liquid level is below said ledge, said float having relatively:

thin marginal edges whereby saidfloat will remain in horizontal free floating position when 'said vessel is tilted.

BENJAMIN RAMVSDENQ 

